Priority-setting

Priority-setting aims to ensure that mine action delivers the most value for money. Given that a country’s mine/ERW contamination problem takes time to resolve, priority-setting involves:

deciding what tasks should receive priority

ensuring that adequate resources are allocated to the selected priorities

When deciding which piece of land should be surveyed and/or cleared first, priority-setting in mine action has important developmental implications. If post-clearance land-use and development are priorities for mine/ERW-affected communities and governments, then this should be reflected as priority-setting criteria. Examples of specific development-related criteria that can be included in a country’s priority-setting system include whether:

land will be used for community development

land ownership is clear

target beneficiaries are clearly identified based on needs

a development agency will assist beneficiaries in making productive use of released land

potential for land-related conflict is low

The GICHD has produced Priority-Setting in Mine Action issue briefs to assist mine action programmes in achieving greater value for money by designing and implementing sound priority-setting systems. The briefs cover the key principles underlying priority-setting.

The Briefs in this series are:

Brief 1: Introduction and Basic Concepts

Brief 2: The Need for National Prioritisation Systems

Brief 3: Establishing the Prioritisation System and Adaption it over time